Tuesday, July 31, 2012

IBM’s Chief Technology Officer was in Toronto recently to discuss how digital technologies can create a new future for cities like Toronto. While acknowledging that cities are not run like private enterprises, he stressed that Toronto can manage congestion by using predictive modeling techniques. “Real time is too late. You want to see what’s likely to be happening in the future and plan for that.”

When asked about the impact of competitive technologies, he said that major technologies are quite complementary. “If you look at the players, there’s the physical infrastructure piece of it and then there’s companies that can put in the sensors and the networks, and then IBM that can use the data to create these models.”

Phase 1 of Toronto’s Underpass Park with amenities such as benches and LED spotlights opened recently. It is situated beneath the confluence of the Richmond St., Adelaide St. and Eastern Ave. overpasses, just west of the Don River. It has successfully converted a desolate and neglected stretch of space for public use. Phase 2 is under construction which would be as green as possible, with shrubbery and grass. This is the first such park in Toronto.

“Underpass parks aren’t uncommon in other parts of the world. At one park in Tokyo, bustling farmers’ markets are held every evening. At another in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, boxing matches take place on the weekends.”

Toronto’s $30 billion, OneCity Transit Plan extends over 30 years, and would involve six subway/train lines, 10 LRT lines, and five bus and streetcar lines. OneCity Transit Plan is gaining momentum as Toronto prepares to host the 2015 PanAm Games.

“OneCity suggests a 1.9 percent increase in property taxes over the next four years. For the average household this means an additional $45 per year.” There is a widespread support for the nominal tax increase, since the transit plan would benefit everyone: the motorists as well as the commuters.

Friday, July 6, 2012

The newest addition to Toronto’s Blue Edge is the redevelopment of Queen’s Quay between Yo Yo Ma Lane and Bay Street. The proposed project is a result of an international design competition, which sees the streetscape as a way to improve access for bikes, streetcars and pedestrians.

“There's a method to the madness that can (occasionally) be described as Toronto's waterfront, and we're absolutely thrilled to watch it all unfold. A holistic approach that doesn't attempt to rush construction for the sake of immediate gratification is critical in the creation of a healthy waterfront, which is just what Waterfront Toronto appears to be doing.”

Sunday, June 3, 2012

One Bedford at Bloor is situated in Toronto’s historic district at the intersection of two TTC lines. It is a high end residential/hotel community complete with a private spa, a swimming pool, a gym and a conference facility.

“Situated at the corner of Bedford Road and Bloor Street, One Bedford will anchor the southern end of The Annex, Toronto's most intellectually sophisticated neighborhood and home to some of the city's most high profile and accomplished citizens.”

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Toronto has a difficult challenge. The local government is caught in a disruptive battle over whether they should move forward with a subway plan or a light rail transit plan. “The capital cost of the Sheppard line extensions will have to be covered mostly from the fare box. The extensions will be viable only if there is development in the vicinity of stations that yields sufficient transit riders to provide needed fare revenue.”

It would be prudent to apply basic business principles to transit development summarized below:
1. Develop a comprehensive 35-year business plan.
2. Include amortized capital costs and operating costs.
3. Identify sources of revenue.
4. Estimate urban development necessary to generate fares to cover capital and operating costs.
5. Estimate subsidy required if urban development does not happen.
6. Establish a time limited development agency to assemble land and deliver project.

Toronto’s $30 billion, OneCity Transit Plan extends over 30 years, and would involve six subway/train lines, 10 LRT lines, and five bus and...

About Digital City Briefs

Digital City Briefs is a web site for ideas, thoughts, articles and videos on 30 global cities.It tracks these cities as they transition into digital cities.The information is extracted from the Internet and is chronicled in short “briefs” with associated references.

What is a digital city?The emerging digital technologies such as smart utility grids, smart meters for energy use monitoring, real time data collection and visualization, Geographic Information System (GIS) based mapping, sustainable development practices, green infrastructure, personal digital devices such as smart phones, smart transit technologies and other innovations are fundamentally changing the way cities are planned, managed and inhabited.What is emerging is a digital city of the future.This web site focuses on the digital transformation in 30 major cities of the world.These cities account for 24 % of the world’s GDP and 6 %of the world’s population.

What is driving this work?There is an explosion of information on the Internet.It is difficult to distinguish between good information and nonsensical chatter. There is also a huge gap between the unorganized data floating around the Internet and the usefulness of information generated by powerful search engines.This web site is an attempt to fill this gap, by extracting relevant information and summarizing it for wider consumption.

What is our mission?Our mission is to research digital city related best practices as well as challenges; and share them on this site.If you find something useful on this site, please use it.If you think that it is worth sharing with others, please do so.If you prefer to ignore this site, that is your choice as well.We would appreciate any feedback or comments you may have, so we can improve the site.